Gas lighter



Sept. 17, 1968 P. RABE 3,

GAS LIGHTER Filed May 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l V PR1 Fig. 1

Inventor.- Pa 144/ [Pa fa Malad fin' or United States Patent Office 3,402,010 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 3,402,010 GAS LIGHTER Peter Rabe, Muhlheim (Main), Germany, assrgnorto Heinrich Mattner GmbH., Offenbach am Main, Germany Filed May 25, 1966, Ser. No. 552,852

Claims priority, application Germany, May 29, 1965,

4 Claims. ci. 431 142 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A gas lighter comprises a housing having a wall with a lighter opening therein. A gas tank is arranged in the housing and associated with a burner which can be opened for discharging a stream of gas along a path directed towards the lighter opening. Electric ignition means is located along the path spaced from the lighter opening. A guiding and blocking wall is arranged about the path so as to guide the once-ignited gas and effect passage of the flame outwardly through the lighter opening immediately after formation of the flame, as well as to prevent flash-back of the flame into the interior of the housing through the lighter opening.

The present invention relates to a gas lighter in which the ignition area is enclosed by a capping means having an exit opening.

In the conventional gas lighter of this particular species, the space beneath the capping means is maintained free from structural elements except for those that are positively required as, for example, gas valve control burner, nozzle arrangement, and ignition parts. The purpose of this design is to have available a large air space which assures ignition of the lighter whenever desired.

Experience has shown, however, that such lighters, heretofore, often fail to ignite in spite of such air space, especially when ignition attempts follow one behind the other. A sequence of ignition attempts may arise, for example, when the lighter is to be ignited in the midst of a wind atmosphere, and the wind extinguishes the flame each time it is generated. This same situation applies when a number of cigarettes are to be lighted.

The conventional lighters have proven themselves to be unreliable when such repeated ignitions are to be executed. Thus the user of the lighter must often wait as much as 30 seconds before he succeeds in igniting the lighter after a previous attempt. Any ignition attempts within that time do not result in the generation of a flame. This situation cannot be corrected by increasing the size of the free space so that the ignition area is provided with additional air.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gas lighter which operates reliably each time it is actuated.

Another object of the present invention is to providea gas lighter, as set forth, having a minimum number of structural parts for the purpose of realizing compactness and low maintenance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas lighter, as set forth, with means for removing the products of combustion to assure a high degree of reliability in operation, so that the flame does not become extinguished as a result of their presence.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gas lighter in which the structural elements surrounding the ignition area may be made of materials not having resistance to high temperatures.

These objects are achieved through the provision that the gas stream emitted from the mouth of the burner is surrounded by a blocking wall situated between the ignition area and the exit opening. In particular, the invention resides mainly in a lighter having an arrangement comprising a housing having a Wall with a lighter opening, gas storage means arranged within the housing spaced from the opening so as to form within the housing a free space betwen itself and the wall of the housing in which the lighter opening is located, gas outlet means associated with the gas storage means and located also within the housing spaced inwardly from the lighter opening in the Wall of the housing, means for discharging, whenever desired, a stream of gas through the gas outlet means along a path directed towards the lighter opening, ignition means located along the path spaced from the lighter opening, and guide means located about the path for guiding the ignited gas from the region of the ignition means to and out through the lighter opening so as to substantially prevent burning gas from entering the free space.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved gas lighter, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of two specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view showing the structural parts in the vicinity of the combustion area.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and shows the operational elements within the electrode and ignition area.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through the lighter, and shows another embodiment of the latter.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of the gas lighter shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a housing 1 which is enclosed in sleeve 2. The upper end of the housing 1 is open and covered by the caps 3 and 4. The cap 4 is mounted on a mechanism which operates the ignition source, when depressed, and which simultaneously controls the actuating lever 5 associated with the fuel valve. The cap 3 has a lighter opening 6 which serve as an exit for the lighter flame, and is secured to the housing 1 by a spring, not shown in the drawing.

The housing 1 also contains a gas storage tank 7 having an upper opening (not shown in the drawing) in which a supporting bushing is threaded. This supporting bushing contains a fuel valve and nozzle arrangement from which a fuel tube -8 projects upwards. An upward movement of this fuel tube 8 opens the fuel valve. The actuating lever 5 serves for moving the feed tube. For this purpose it is pivoted about the axis 9 and bears, with its forkshaped free end 10, against the underside of the abutment 11 which is fastened to the fuel tube 8.

Above the mouth 12 of the combustion tube 8, are located two electrodes 13 and 14. The electrodes generate an ignition spark bridging the discharge gap between the electrodes. The electrodes are supported by two metallic electrode carrying rods 15 and 16 seated in the insulating disc 17 which in turn is fastened to the housing 1. The electrical conductors 18 leading to the electrodes 13 and 14 are indicated by dotted lines. These conductors 18 are connected to a high-voltage ignition circuit (not shown in the drawing) located within the housing 1. This ignition circuit becomes actuated through depression of the cap 4 as explained above.

In accordance with the present invention a disc 19 is fastened to the upper wall of the cap 3. This disc includes an opening 20 within the region of the exit opening 6, and serves as a blocking wall 21 surrounding the gas stream in the area between the tips of the electrodes 13 and 14, and the exit opening 6. The disc 19 is secured to the block 22 located between the metallic electrode carrying rods and 16. Through means of the rods 15 and 16 and the block 22, the space below the ignition zone is also encompassed with a relatively large blocking wall. Furthermore, the fuel tube 8 is enclosed by the containing means or enclosure 11, as described above.

Thus the actual ignition zone is, substantially surrounded by structural elements, namely, the containing means 11, the disc 19, the electrode carriers 15 and 16, and the block 22. The remaining free space 23 around the ignition zone is, therefore, relatively small. The air capacity of the free space 23 is, however, sufliciently large to permit the formation of a combustible mixture of air with the gas emitted through the mouth 12 of fuel tube 8.

The explosion resulting from the ignition of the combustible mixture takes place mainly within the opening in the blocking wall 21. Accordingly, the explosive pressure is propagated essentially in the direction toward the lighter opening 6. Thus, only a small fraction of the unburnable combustion products is forced back into the free space 23. Even this small amount of combustion product which does enter the free space 23, is, however, drawn out of this space, within a short period of time, by means of the gas stream. As a result, a fresh supply of air is free to stream into the space through the many openings and gaps between the various structural elements of the housing. These openings and gaps, however, are sufficiently small so as to offer so much resistance to flow of gas when compared with the gas exit path-through openings and 6, that the pressure wave resulting from the explosion is propagated substantially through these latter openings carrying along the burning gaseous fuel. This constructional arrangement has the advantage that over two ignitions per second may be obtained therewith.

While the lighter opening 6 in the cap 3 is made large enough to permit the flame to exit through it, it is still made small enough to prevent the flame from re-entering the housing through this opening. Consequently, the ignition zone and the surrounding structural elements are not subjected to intense heat of the flame. This has the advantage that parts as the disc 19, block 22, and containing means 11, need not be made of materials which are adapted to resist high temperatures. Thus these parts may be made of synthetic materials unable to withstand temperatures exceeding, for example 150 C. In the event that the cap 3 is constructed of metal which quickly conducts away the reflected and radiated heat, and distributes the latter to the surrounding environment, the temperature limit may be even further lowered to, for example 80 C.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, an electrode carrier 24 is located beneath the cap 3 coaxially with the lighter opening 6. This electrode carrier 24 is of annular crosssection having a center opening 25 bounded by the annular face 26 from which the electrodes 27 and 28 project inwardly. This carrier 24 serves also as a blocking wall preventing gases from escaping into the space between carrier 24 and housing 3. Through means of the two posts 29, the ring 24 is mounted on the support 30 which in turn is directly secured to the fuel tube 8. Windows 31 are provided between the posts 29 for the purpose of admitting air to the ignition zone 34. The posts 29 also contain passages 32 in which the high-voltage conductors 33 (indicated in dashed lines) are located.

The carrier 24 serving also as blocking wall extends at least from the ignition zone to the region of the lighter opening 6. As a result of this construction, the horizontally expanding pressure wave caused by the ignition explosion is contained and directed toward the lighter opening. The suction effect subsequently generated by the gas stream, causes the exhaust of the combustion gases from the space 34, and fresh air is thereby allowed to pass through the windows 31 and to fill this space.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore. such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A gas lighter comprising a housing having a wall with a lighter opening; gas storage means arranged within said housing spaced from said opening so as to form within said housing a free space between itself and said Wall of said housing in which said lighter opening is located; gas outlet means associated with said gas storage means and located also within said housing spaced inwardly from said lighter opening in said wall of said housing; means for discharging, whenever desired, a stream of gas through said gas outlet means along a path directed towards said lighter opening; electric ignition means located along said path spaced from said lighter opening and operative for effecting ignition of said stream of gas resulting in explosive combustion thereof; and guide means located about said path and extending at least from the region of said ignition means to said lighter opening so as to guide the ignited gas from the region of said ignition means to and out through said lighter opening, and said lighter opening being configurated so as to prevent flashing back of the flame into said free space whenever gas is discharged through said gas outlet means.

2. A gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means include blocking wall means located about said path and extending substantially from said ignition means to said lighter opening.

3. A gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein said ignition means comprises two electrodes arranged on opposite sides of said path and operating in conjunction with a high-voltage ignition circuit for generatng a spark through discharge of a high voltage across a gap between said electrodes.

4. A gas lighter according to claim 3 including a spacing block associated with said guide means for separating said electrodes and establishing said gap.

5. A gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a blocking wall member secured to said housing and having an opening coaxially situated with respect to said path and said lighter opening.

6. A gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means extends also along said ignition means.

7. A gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a blocking disc having an opening coaxial with respect to said lighter opening, said disc being secured to said housing in the vicinity of said lighter opening and extending from .a point between said gas outlet means and said ignition means to a point located in the region of said ignition means.

8. A gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein said guide means includes means for supporting said ignition means.

9. A gas lighter according to claim 1, wherein the housing walls include in the region of said free space wall portions of a material unable to withstand a temperature exceeding C. a

10. The gas lighter according to claim 1, including air admitting means by which air may enter said free space to form a combustible mixture with said gas, the resistance 5 6 to flow of gases through said guide means being substan- 2,482,794 9/1949 Peterson 67-7 tially less than through said air admitting means. 3,295,024 12/1966 Newman 317-86 3,305,701 2/1967 Remy et a1 317-86 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

1,895,039 1/1933 Fisher 317-87 X VOLODYMYR Y. MAYEWSKY, Assistant Examiner. 2,090,039 8/1937 Goddard 317-83 X 

